Reverend saddles up in Barnham to raise money for charity

The Rev Holland will be joined by eight friends for his latest fundraising spell in the saddle.

They will be cycling the 250 kilometres from the village square to Chichester’s twin city of Chartres.

Their journey will equally benefit the BEADYS support group of St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester and the parish church.

Mr Holland, of the joint parishes of Aldingbourne, Barnham and Eastergate, said: “I did a cycle ride last year with Father Tony Brant from Barnham in Sufflok to Barnham in West Sussex.

“That was to raise money for the local parish and covered about 180 miles. I enjoyed it and someone said I should do another ride to the Continent.”

He will be joined by Sarah, Kevin and David Agate; Andy Ellis; Tony Foot; Andrew and Julie Horner; and Nick Holland for his latest journey.

They will set off from the parish office by Barnham railway station at 3pm on May 30 to catch a ferry at Portsmouth.

Their intention is to arrive in the French cathedral city of Chartres on June 2 when the Ascension Day festival is taking place.